Conducive weather conditions in the country’s key wheat-producing State of Punjab are likely to boost wheat output, easing concerns about the adverse impact of unusual warm weather raised earlier.
Dr. R.S. Gill, head, Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, stated that cloudy weather without rainfall is highly favourable for the development of aphids, and farmers need to be cautious about it.
“Aphids are the most important insect pests in wheat and the damage caused by them is observed in the month of March. These are small, soft-bodied, green to blackish green louse-like insects found in colonies on leaves and earheads. Aphids suck sap from the leaves and maturing grains,” he said in a statement.
“By spraying on the borders of wheat fields, its spread can be checked,” he added.
“Cold conditions in January and February, and intermittent timely rain, have resulted in good development of grain, which will boost the per hectare yields of wheat. If the weather remains conducive in the coming days as well, we can expect a bumper wheat production to the tune of 165 lakh tonnes this year,” P.S. Rangi, an agriculture expert and Punjab State Farmers Commission adviser, told The Hindu , adding that the market arrival of wheat is likely to remain between 120 to 125 lakh tonnes in the coming season.
Wheat has been sown on nearly 35 lakh hectares during the ongoing rabi (winter) season.
The harvesting of this main crop will start from April.
